[craftinator]

The rule of 3 is catchy like you say, which means programmers will have a better chance of remembering when it's needed.

[Geminidog]

But a catchy name serves only to be catchy it doesn't serve as justification for the rule actually being correct.

[rightbyte]

Ye I don't like these way too specific rule of thumbs either. It is superstition that is invoked during code reviews to not having to explain or justify your arbitrary nagging on the reviewing side or defending a bad layout on the other.

Stuff should be analyzed in its context.